Smoking Device with Multi-Use Combustion Chamber

ABSTRACT

A smoking device has a cylindrical combustion chamber with a channel along a length, a mouthpiece and a closed cap with a through hole, and an outer shell having an inside diameter and a second length, with a second channel opening through a wall of the outer shell and a third channel in a portion of the outer shell away from the second channel. The outer shell engages the combustion chamber in a slip fit, enabling a user to rotate the outer shell. The first and second channels are aligned such a user may load smokable material into the combustion chamber, and the user is enabled to rotate the outer shell to align the third channel with the first channel, such that material may be ignited through an intersection of the first and the third channels at different positions along the length.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

The present invention is a continuation of co-pending application Ser.No. 17/383,017, filed on Jul. 22, 2021. All disclosure of the parentapplication is incorporated at least by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the technical field of apparatus for smokingtobacco, cigarettes or other smokable materials.

2. Description of Related Art

Devices for smoking tobacco and other materials are quite well known inthe art, including pipes, water pipes and the like as known in the art.However, there is no such apparatus enabling a user to load a lengthwisechamber with a cigarette, tobacco or other material, and to ignite andsmoke the material selectively in a combustion chamber at a plurality ofdifferent points along a length of the chamber.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention a smoking device is provided,comprising a cylindrical combustion chamber having an axis, an outsidediameter and a first length greater than the outside diameter, with afirst longitudinal channel parallel with the axis opening through a wallof the combustion chamber along a portion of the length, a mouthpieceadapted to engage a first end of the cylindrical combustion chamber, themouthpiece tapered to an outside end with an opening through themouthpiece into the combustion chamber, a closed cap having alongitudinal through hole, the closed cap adapted to engage a second endof the combustion chamber, and an outer shell having an inside diameterand a second length, with a second longitudinal channel opening througha wall of the outer shell for a portion of the length parallel with theaxis, the second longitudinal channel having a width equal to the widthof the first longitudinal channel of the combustion chamber, the outershell also having a plurality of holes through the wall of the outershell, with centers of the holes positioned on a spiral line wrappingaround the outer shell, spacing the holes apart along the length of theouter shell. The outer shell engages the outside diameter of thecombustion chamber in a slip fit along the length of the combustionchamber between the mouthpiece and cap, enabling a user to rotate theouter shell on the combustion chamber, wherein with the outer shellpositioned rotationally with the combustion chamber with the first andsecond longitudinal channels aligned the combustion chamber is open tothe outside through the aligned longitudinal channels and the user isenabled to load smokable material into the combustion chamber, andwherein the user is enabled to rotate the outer shell to a plurality ofrotary positions positioning individual ones of the holes through theouter shell aligned with the first longitudinal channel, such thatmaterial may be ignited and smoke may be drawn through the individualholes independently at different positions along the length.

In one embodiment the outer shell has a continuous channel following aspiral path around the wall of the outer shell. Also, in one embodimentthe cap and the mouthpiece each have a threaded interface compatiblewith a threaded interface on ends of the combustion chamber, and the capand mouthpiece are joined and removed by manipulation of the threadedinterfaces. In one embodiment the smoking device further comprisesnumbers proximate the holes along the spiral path of the outer shell.And in one embodiment the smoking device further comprises letteringalong the length of the outer shell.

In one embodiment the outer shell further comprises an embossed orknurled surface. Also, in one embodiment the smoking device furthercomprises a cover adapted to fit over one end of the smoking device witha pen clip.

In another aspect of the invention a method for consuming smokablematerial is provided, comprising machining a first longitudinal channelopening through a wall of a combustion chamber along a portion of alength and parallel with an axis of the combustion chamber, engaging anouter shell having an inside diameter of a dimension to form a slip fitwith the outside diameter of the combustion chamber over the combustionchamber, the outer shell having a second longitudinal channel openingthrough a wall of the outer shell for a portion of the length parallelwith the axis, the second longitudinal channel having a width equal tothe width of the first longitudinal channel of the combustion chamber,the outer shell also having a plurality of holes through a wall of theouter shell, with centers of the holes positioned on a spiral linewrapping around the outer shell, spacing the holes apart along thelength of the outer shell, engaging a mouthpiece to one end of thecombustion chamber, the mouthpiece open from an outside end into thecombustion chamber, engaging a cap to an opposite end of the combustionchamber from the mouthpiece, the cap having a through hole parallel withthe axis of the combustion chamber, rotating the outer shell relative tothe combustion chamber such that the first and second longitudinalchannels are aligned, loading smokable material into the combustionchamber through the aligned longitudinal channels, rotating the outershell relative to the combustion chamber such that individual ones ofthe holes along the spiral line are aligned with the first longitudinalchannel through the combustion chamber, igniting the smoking materialthrough the holes, and drawing air by the mouthpiece through the holes,conducting smoke through the mouthpiece to the user.

In one embodiment of the method there is a continuous channel followinga spiral path around the wall of the outer shell. Also, in oneembodiment the holes in the outer shell are along a straight lineparallel with the longitudinal channel in the outer shell. In oneembodiment the method has a step forming the cap and the mouthpiece eachwith a counterbore of a diameter to press the cap and the mouthpieceonto the outside diameter of the combustion chamber manually, and toremove same manually. In one embodiment the method comprises a stepproviding the cap and the mouthpiece each with a threaded interfacecompatible with a threaded interface on ends of the combustion chamberand joining and removing the cap and mouthpiece by manipulation of thethreaded interfaces.

In one embodiment the method further comprises providing numbersproximate the holes along the spiral path of the outer shell. In oneembodiment the method further comprises providing lettering along thelength of the outer shell. In one embodiment the method furthercomprises knurling or embossing the outer shell. And in one embodimentthe method further comprises joining a cover having a pen clip to oneend of the smoking device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top plan view of an outer shell for an assembly of asmoking device in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is an elevation view of the outer shell of FIG. 1A in anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1C is a cross-section of the outer shell taken along section line1C-1C of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1D illustrates an outer shell having a spiral channel.

FIG. 2A is an elevation view of a combustion chamber with end pieces inan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a top plan view of the combustion chamber of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is an assembly elevation view of a smoking device in anembodiment of the invention comprising parts illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1Band 1C, and in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 3B is the assembly of a smoking device of FIG. 3A, rotated 90degrees to show a top plan view.

FIG. 3C is a plan view of the assembly of FIGS. 3A and 3B with the outershell rotated such that a hole is now aligned with the cutout in thecombustion chamber portion.

FIG. 3D is a plan view of the assembly of FIGS. 3A and 3B with the outershell rotated such that a different hole is now aligned with the cutoutin the chamber portion.

FIG. 3E is a plan view of an assembly of an outer shell with a spiralchannel over a combustion chamber.

FIG. 3F is the plan view of FIG. 3E showing alternative positions ofoverlap of the spiral channel with the straight channel of thecombustion chamber.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the smoking device of FIGS. 3A, B, Cand D with additionally a pen clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate an outer shell 101 for an assembly of asmoking device in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is atop plan view showing outer shell 101 as cylindrical with an overalllength L1. The shell is open on both ends, has a lengthwise longitudinalchannel cutout 102 for a portion of the length and to a depth of aboutone fourth of the diameter of the shell, and in one embodiment has aseries of through holes 103 a through 103 g in this example, the holesfollowing a spiral path around the body of the cylinder as shown, andspaced apart evenly along the length. FIG. 1B is a side elevation viewof the outer shell, and FIG. 1C is a cross-section taken along sectionline 1C-1C of FIG. 1B. FIG. 1C shows outside diameter (OD) and insidediameter (ID) of the outer shell. Outer shell 101 in embodiments of theinvention is preferably formed of, aluminum, glass or stainless steel,or any other non-flammable suitable material, as the elements of thesmoking device are not to be flammable and must resist temperature ofignited tobacco or other material to be smoked.

In an alternative embodiment rather than the series of holes 103 athrough 103 g, there may be instead a second continuous channelfollowing the spiral path of the holes, and of a width of the diameterof the holes. FIG. 1D is a top view of an outer shell 104 having aspiral channel 105 instead of the holes along a spiral path of FIGS. 1A,1 b and 1C.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a combustion chamber and end pieces for thesmoking device. FIG. 2A is a side elevation view of combustion chamber201 for the smoking device, comprising a cylindrica chamber portion 203,a mouthpiece 202 and an end closure 204. Chamber portion 203 has anoutside diameter D1 essentially the same as, but just slightly smaller,than inside diameter D1 of outer shell 101. This relationship allowsouter shell 101 to be assembled over chamber portion 203, and to beeasily rotatable about the chamber portion, as is shown and described inenabling detail below.

Mouthpiece 202 has a counterbore 206 of a diameter to be a mild pressfit over the outside diameter D1 of chamber portion 203. End cap 204 hasa counterbore 207 to also be a mild press fit over the outside diameterof chamber portion 203. In one embodiment end cap 204 has a through hole208 in the direction of the axis of the combustion chamber, and inanother embodiment there is no through hole.

Chamber portion 203 has a lengthwise cutout 205 along a portion of thelength L2 and to a depth of about one quarter of the diameter of thechamber portion, and of a length equal to the link of the similar cutoutin outer shell 101. It should be noted that holes 103 n are only throughthe wall of outer shell 101, and there are no such holes in chamberportion 203.

FIG. 3A is an assembly elevation view of a smoking device 301 comprisingall of the parts illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, and in FIGS. 2A and2B. To make the assembly, with either mouthpiece 202 or cap 204 removedfrom chamber portion 203, outer shell 101 is engaged over the diameterof the chamber portion, and the cap and mouthpiece are replaced on theends of the chamber portion. Both the cap and mouthpiece are made for amild press fit such that they may be engaged and removed rather easily.In some embodiments there may be threaded interfaces for thisengagement. The outer shell has an inside diameter such that it may befreely slipped over the outside diameter of the chamber portion and maybe freely rotated around the chamber portion once the assembly isaccomplished.

In FIG. 3A the chamber portion and the outer shell are positionedrotationally such that the cutouts 102 and 205 are aligned. Holes 103 athrough 103 g are indicated in FIG. 3A, but in this state none of theholes go through to the inner volume of the chamber portion. In theembodiment implementing a spiral channel in the outer shell, rather thanthe holes along a spiral path, in the circumstance and relationship ofFIGS. 3A and 3B, no paet part of the spiral channel crosses lengthwisechannel 205 of the combustion chamber.

FIG. 3B is the assembly of a smoking device of FIG. 3A, rotated 90degrees to show a top plan view. It may be seen in this top view thatcutouts 102 and 205 are still aligned. Holes 103(a-g) are not shown inFIG. 3B, nor is the spiral channel in the alternative embodiment. In thestate of the assembly shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B the inner volume of thecombustion chamber portion 203 is exposed through the aligned cutouts102 and 105. In this state a user may place a cigarette into the chamberportion, the cigarette aligned longitudinally with the cutouts 102 and205. Element 302 represents a cigarette placed into the chamber portion.

It should be noted that loading the chamber portion is not limited to acigarette. A user may load any material to smoke into the chamberportion through the aligned cutouts 102 and 205. Loose tobacco or otherloose material to be smoked may be loaded, and powder materials may alsobe loaded into the chamber portion.

FIG. 3C is a plan view of the assembly of FIGS. 3A and 3B with outershell 101 rotated such that hole 103 a is now aligned with cutout 205 inthe chamber portion. In this rotational aspect the lengthwise cutouts102 and 205 in the inner chamber portion and the outer shell are nolonger aligned. Hole 103 a however is now positioned over the cutout 205in the inner chamber portion. With the inner chamber portion loaded withsmokable material one may place the mouth on the mouthpiece and draw airinto and through the chamber portion from hole 103 a. In an embodimentwith a hole 208 through the end cap air will be drawn in as well troughhole 208, or a user may block hole 208 with a finger as desired. One mayalso touch a match or other lighting instrument to hole 103 a and ignitethe smokable material in the inner chamber portion and draw smokethrough the length of the chamber portion and out through themouthpiece.

At some point after ignition and drawing smoke through combustionchamber 201 and mouthpiece 202 a user may rotate outer shell 101 to arotary position to cut off any draw of air into the inner chamberportion. The ignited material may extinguish under this circumstance.

FIG. 3D illustrates the assembly of the outer shell and the innerchamber rotated relatively such that hole 103 d is now aligned withcutout 205 of the inner chamber portion, and now consumable material maybe ignited at the position of hole 103 d, which, it will be noted, isabout midway on the length of the assembly, and air may be drawn inthrough hole 103 d and smoke may be drawn down the length of the innerchamber and through the mouthpiece.

The holes 103 n that are not aligned with cutout 205 are shown in FIG.3D in dotted outline to indicate that these are positions where otherholes may be aligned and used by rotation of the outer shell relative tothe inner chamber portion. A user may thusly consume materialselectively along the length of the inner chamber portion.

In other embodiments holes may be implemented through the outer shell inpatterns other than the spiral pattern shown and described. For example,in one embodiment the holes may be implemented along a straight lineparallel with the longitudinal channel, in which case all the holes maybe aligned with the longitudinal channel in the combustion chamber, inthe pattern shown in FIG. 3 d , and the user may choose which hole orholes to use.

FIGS. 3E and 3F illustrate the circumstance in the alternativeembodiment wherein a spiral channel is implemented in the outer shell.In FIG. 3E the outer shell is rotated to the position apparent in FIG.3C, and a portion of spiral channel 105 at an end of the spiral channeloverlaps channel 205 providing an opening into the inner volume of thecombustion chamber. FIG. 3F illustrates a circumstance wherein the outershell is rotated so that the mid portion of the spiral channel, shown inunbroken line, overlaps channel 205 creating a passage through to theinner volume of the combustion chamber. Other positions of overlapcreating passage into the combustion chamber are shown in dotted lines.The skilled person will understand that, with the spiral channel in theouter shell 101, that an overlap creating an opening may be implementedat any position of rotation of the outer shell 101, as it is no longernecessary to position a hole in the outer shell with the channel in thecombustion chamber.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the smoking device of FIGS. 3A, B, Cand D with additionally a pen clip 401, such that a user might carry thesmoking device in shirt, vest or jacket pocket by a clip 403. In someembodiments there may be a working pen tip 402, and in others not. Inone embodiment the pen clip 401 may be implemented on an opposite end ofthe smoking device, and may, in that embodiment, cover the mouthpiece202.

The skilled person will understand that the embodiments described aboveare entirely exemplary, and not limiting to the scope of the invention.many variations may be made in the materials, dimensions and the likewithin the scope of the invention. The scope is limited only by theclaims.

1. A smoking device, comprising: a cylindrical combustion chamber havingan axis, an outside diameter and a first length greater than the outsidediameter, with a first channel parallel with the axis opening through awall of the combustion chamber along a portion of the length; amouthpiece adapted to engage a first end of the cylindrical combustionchamber, the mouthpiece tapered to an outside end with an openingthrough the mouthpiece into the combustion chamber; a closed cap havinga longitudinal through hole, the closed cap adapted to engage a secondend of the combustion chamber; and an outer shell having an insidediameter and a second length, with a second channel opening through awall of the outer shell for a portion of the length parallel with theaxis, the second channel having a width equal to the width of the firstchannel, the outer shell also having a third channel through the outershell in a portion of the outer shell away from the second channel;wherein the outer shell engages the outside diameter of the combustionchamber in a slip fit along the length of the combustion chamber betweenthe mouthpiece and cap, thereby positioning the outer shell with thecombustion chamber enabling a user to rotate the outer shell on thecombustion chamber; wherein the first and second channels are alignedsuch that the combustion chamber is open to the outside through thealigned longitudinal channels enabling the user to load smokablematerial into the combustion chamber; and wherein the user is enabled torotate the outer shell to align at least a portion of the third channelwith the first channel, such that material may be ignited and smoke maybe drawn through an intersection of the first and the third channels atdifferent positions along the length.
 2. The smoking device of claim 1wherein the third channel is a continuous channel that follows a spiralpath around the axis.
 3. A method for consuming smokable material,comprising: machining a first channel opening through a wall of acylindrical combustion chamber along a portion of a length of thecombustion chamber and parallel to an axis of the combustion chamber;engaging an outer shell having an inside diameter of a dimension to forma slip fit with the outside diameter of the combustion chamber over thecombustion chamber, the outer shell having a second channel openingthrough a wall of the outer shell for a portion of the length parallelwith the axis, the second longitudinal channel having a width equal tothe width of the first channel of the combustion chamber, the outershell also having a third channel through the wall of the outer shell ina portion of the outer shell away from the second channel; engaging amouthpiece to one end of the combustion chamber, the mouthpiece openfrom an outside end into the combustion chamber; engaging a cap to anopposite end of the combustion chamber from the mouthpiece, the caphaving a through hole parallel with the axis of the combustion chamber;rotating the outer shell relative to the combustion chamber such thatthe first and second channels are aligned; loading smokable materialinto the combustion chamber through the aligned first and secondchannels; rotating the outer shell relative to the combustion chambersuch that a portion of the third channel intersects with a portion ofthe first channel; igniting the smoking material through theintersection; and drawing air by the mouthpiece through theintersection, conducting smoke through the mouthpiece to the user. 4.The method of claim 3 wherein the third channel is a continuous channelthat follows a spiral path around the axis.